TONIGHT: Black and White Years debut their AMAZING new LP, Patterns.

So, this is probably the most self-serving item I have ever posted on Austin Eavesdropper.

Why?  Well, it's written by GARY!, and this is the story of how GARY! and I met. So in that way, it's also one of the most sentimental items I've ever posted on Austin Eavesdropper.  

Grin.

Anyway. Basically, what you need to know is, The Black and White Years, Austin's electro-dance-music-with-smart-lyrics-band, is releasing their new LP Patterns tonight at The ND.  It is incredibly catchy, the Internet is freaking out about it, and I have been listening to the whole album on repeat this past week. Sample one of the singles, "Up!" here.

Here's GARY! to tell you the rest. Remember -- I'm warning you -- the first part is straight-up flattery, and I'm a bit of an ego maniac just for posting it.

*  *  *
from gary!:

About two years ago, I was at The Mohawk for the YELLE show, when a friend of mine ran up to me and said, “I just met the cutest girl, and the two of you just HAVE to meet! You are going to LOVE her!”

If it sounds like he was gushing, it’s because he was, not to mention that’s just how gay folk talk when they get excited. I must have looked a little puzzled because he went on to explain, “She writes for this new blog in town called “That Austin Girl.” Now at this point in time I had never heard of a blog called “That Austin Girl,” nor had I ever met the pocket-sized blond girl behind it.

We did actually end up meeting that night in October, if only in passing, but my friend was right.  I was immediately taken by this HUGE personality trapped inside such a compact frame. We ran into each other a few other times after that, and we finally decided that if we were both going to inadvertently stalk each other’s social calendars, that we should probably exchange number.  God forbid, we both showed up at an event wearing the same thing.

Fast forward to the middle of November 2008.  I had heard about a show taking place at The Compound called “The Black and White Years: The East Side Remix.”  Tolly and I had previously bonded over the fact that we thought The Black and White Years were one of the most exciting things happening in the Austin music scene.  I mean, it’s not every day a local up and coming band is approached at SXSW by Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison, and are asked if they’d like help in producing a debut album, right?  So, I rang Tolly.

It was an awesome night, and the start of a great friendship. Did I mention it was something like 35 degrees that night?  I think that officially makes us hardcore fans.

So!  It turns out that history will kind of be repeating itself tonight. The Black and White Years have a show tonight at The ND at 501 Studios.  This is their official album release party for Patterns, and their first single “Up!” has been garnering some heavy play on both 101x and KUT, as well as another favorite track of mine called “Everything’s Eventual.”

The first three times I heard the new songs on the radio I whipped out my phone and tried to SoundHound/Shazam it, only to end up feeling a little defeated when nothing pulled up. I actually found myself sitting in my car, praying the DJ would tell me who was behind the awesomeness (Praise Jesus for Andy Langer and Matt Riley!).  Since then, I’ve wised up and learned that they are actually streaming all of Patterns from their MySpace page, and I'm happy to report that this band has no idea what a sophomore slump is. The album is chocked full of danceable beats and catchy choruses, and I think our friend Happy put it best when he said, “Holy ish. This album is fun. Like REALLY fun.”

Here is a little taste of what you can expect tonight. From Patterns: The song “Animal Behaviors.”

And from Sip Sip -- opening for The Black and White Years -- “Continental Breakfast."

What I am trying to say is: You should seriously come out tonight and get your dance on.  (And to help two Austin Eavesdroppers celebrate their 2nd Friendaversary).

details:

101X Homegrown Live Presents: The Black and White Years CD Release Party with Sip Sip and MoTel Aviv

When: Doors – 9pm, MoTel Aviv - 10 pm, Sip Sip - 11 pm, B&WY’s – 12am

Where: THE ND @ 501 STUDIOS // 512.485.3001

Tickets: $8 at the door, Get there early for $3 Shiner’s and free pizza from Mr Gatti’s (while it lasts)

Love,

GARY!

GUEST POST: Intern Jeronimo reviews Fox Royal!

Happy Wednesday, all!

So, a few weeks ago, you might remember me mentioning that Austin Eavesdropper now has an intern. That was totally true. And if you are a publicist and have been following instructions (pitching austineavesdropper [a] gmail.com instead of the old Hotmail address) then you have probably even heard from Jeronimo!

Basically, Jeronimo is awesome. He is utilizing this as a writing internship, so, I invited him to do a couple of guest posts for AE.

Today, Jeronimo is reviewing the new EP, Us Against Us Again, from Austin band, Fox Royal. They have an upcoming show on Tuesday, November 9 at Mohawk.

Thank you to Jeronimo for this post, and please tell us what you think of this review in the comment section! (Constructive criticism only, please).

from jeronimo:

Fox Royal has just released their debut EP, and I’m here to say a few words about it. But before we get into that, let me give y’all a little background on this new group.

The band was started in Lubbock in 2008, when brothers Benjamin Bloom (bass/vocals) and Doug Bloom (guitar/vocals) met Justin Olejnik (drums/ vocals). The band played shows around Lubbock for about a year and a half, until they moved to Austin, where they would meet their fourth member, Lance Logan (guitar/percussion/vocals). A year later the band began recording their first EP Us Against Us Again, and released it in September of 2010.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the music.


For the sake of ending with the good, let’s start with the not so great.

After listening to Us Against Us Again from Fox Royal, I had (and still have) mixed feelings. The instrumentation on this project is actually pretty well done, and is probably the album’s biggest saving grace, but there’s still something left to be desired. The singing style on most of the songs falls pretty flat. I don’t want to call it whiny, because that’s not really the right description, but it just doesn’t feel like there’s any real passion. This makes most tracks feel routine, bordering on mundane. It’s not as if they can’t sing, quite the opposite in fact, but it just seems like they’re still searching for a voice to complement their other talents. That said, there are still some tracks that are worthwhile.

One song in particular really seems to showcase both the instrumental abilities and vocal potential of these young artists: "Across the Room." This track brings together both talents in a way that, I think, shows a lot of future potential. The main problem with the vocals in other tracks is that it sounds like they’re just trying too hard, instead of letting the lyrics flow in a way that would be as melodically pleasing as the instruments. However, on "Across the Room," the lyrics flow right along with the beat and bass line, giving this song a near-perfect feel.

All in all, the group’s debut actually shows quite a lot of talent and potential. The main thing to consider is that artists are always growing, developing and getting better at their art. With that in mind, I think we can look forward to seeing better and better things from Fox Royal.

If you would like to listen to Fox Royal’s new EP, Us Against Us Again you can visit their page at ReverbNation.

A post from GARY! TONIGHT: Maluca -- The Forbidden Dance.

Happy Thursday afternoon, everybody!

So, question for you friends. It's early summer...you college students are up to no good...let me guess. You're craving a dance party tonight! 

That's good news, because GARY! - Austin Eavesdropper's music editor - dropped this treat into my inbox just now, and I wanted to share it with you. Take it away, GARY!:

So if you took part in any of the free SXSW events over the past few years, then you should be no stranger to the guys over at Mad Decent. They throw some ridiculous parties when they swing through Austin, and release even crazier music. What you may or may not know is that Mad Decent is actually the baby of Diplo, a DJ curator of sorts, and also home to people like Crookers, Major Lazer, Rusko, and Blaqstarr.

But the latest Mad Decent addition? MALUCA. And she plays in town tonight, y'all.

When I asked my friend Jill to describe her to me, she did so in the simplest way imaginable: "Think Latin MIA." Now if that doesn't insert a compact little visual into your skull, then the only thing to do is see Maluca for yourself. Here's a short video for the Diplo-produced track, "El Tigeraso," Maluca's debut single - an infectious, electric track that draws on the woman's Dominican merengue roots.


Born in the Bronx and raised in Manhattan by Dominican parents, Maluca is that increasingly rare bird - a downtown girl, who brings together the classic cool, glamour, grit and passion of New York City in an instant. She and Diplo met at a karaoke bar, immediately began working together, and the rest, as they say, is history.

If this is perhaps your cup of tea, then you should definitely come down to The ND tonight and catch her show. Make sure to RSVP before the list closes tonight for reduced cover.

(BONUS: Listen to Maluca's track with Oliver Twizt here.)

See you killers on the dance floor,
g.

Details:
Wet Hot American Party with Maluca
With DJ Orion and Dubbel Dutch, hosted by Misa Soliz.

18 AND UP WELCOME, DOORS AT 8PM

June 17 at The ND (501 Studios)

Sponsored by the Travis County Democratic Party and Ultra8201.com

$7 PRE-SALE AND DOOR TICKETS WHEN YOU RSVP HERE.

$10 OTHERWISE.

TONIGHT: Game Night and Beautiful Revolver

I am a little late getting this up, but hopefully you know about both of these fun parties tonight anyway!

My friend Erin at Recovering Lazyholic, who did a little interview on Austin Eavesdropper not too long ago, designed this poster for Artifact Workshop and Neiliyo.  She has a great write-up of the CD release for "Game Night," happening tonight at Club DeVille.  And, get this - instead of selling CD's, the tracks are going to be made available on a time-sensitive link printed on SLAP BRACELETS! How cool is that?

Immediately following, some of our favorite party-throwers, Knuckle Rumbler, are hosting:

BEAUTIFUL REVOLVER: The Beatles vs. Madonna is at The Scoot Inn tonight, with doors at 9:00pm. RSVP on Do512.

Fun!

Next Wednesday: Me, Mortified.

                                                                                                      Me, Age 8

WOW.

Yes, that would be me, as a child, in the beautiful Olan Mills portrait you see above. Do you like my sleeves?

Here is another picture from the same "shoot:"

Please note how excited I look to be there. Like, "oh my God! Here I am, posing with these striped column things! Wearing a cumberbund! I'VE MADE IT."

Anyway friends, the reason I show you these delightful photographs is because a handful of Austinites and I are going to be in Mortified next week, and I want you to come. You'll probably see these pictures. Or if you're lucky, Glamour Shots.

But what is Mortified, you ask?

"Mortified stars everyday people reading aloud their most embarrassing, pathetic and private teenage diary entries, poems, love letters, lyrics and locker notes – all in front of total strangers.

Part comedy, part theater, and all therapy, Mortified is a comic excavation of the strange and extraordinary things we created as kids. From surviving the sixth grade to accounts of nerd molestation to stories of pet neglect, Mortified Austin is bringing you an all new show filled with angsty tales of adolescent woe."

Mortified is kind of a cultural phenomenon, with the first show beginning in LA several years ago, then spreading to cities all over the country. And our esteemed Austin is one of them! It is also a book, and both book and show have been hailed in Newsweek, Esquire, Glamour, Time Out NY, Bust Magazine, on "This American Life," and more. And on Austin Eavesdropper, of course!   

Several weeks ago GARY! encouraged me to audition for the Austin one, so I did. I'll be honest with you: I am both excited and terrified about the show (especially since it involves me reading some of my old, teenage, really really REALLY BAD love letters in front of many people). But, mostly excited.

There are two performances, and both are happening at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz.

wednesday, march 3 at 7:00pm: tickets here

The second show is March 10, and it will go on sale in the next week or so.

I hope you can come!

Music to celebrate the sudden sunshine: Tribella.

Less than two weeks ago, a magical gift appeared in my email inbox. It was a message from Sarah Glynn, front woman of power pop group, Tribella.  She wanted to let me know that their debut CD was about to drop, and would I be interested in reviewing it?

Now Reader, as you may or may not know, I am typically terrible at these things. And by "these things" I mean sounding smart and informed in album review. But! Tribella's soon-to-be-released CD, Thirteen, has been stuck (willingly) in my car stereo for about a week now, and since I love it so much, I'm going to give this one a shot.

Alright, so for years, I was convinced Liz Phair was an Austinite. I'm not sure why (wishful thinking?), but perhaps Tribella had this desire, too. At any rate, the songs on Thirteen reminds me of Phair's gently vindictive lyric sensibilities:

"Once I was born a maker,

Then I became a taker,

America they pulled the wool right over both my eyes."

That's from "Deal Breaker," one of my favorite tracks on the album.

Musically, Tribella has touches of '90s indie pop rocker and fellow Austinite Abra Moore, particularly in Sarah Glynn's vocals, both breathy and powerful at once. (Pause. Raise your hand if you were as obsessed with Abra Moore's song "Four Leaf Clover" as I was?)

The songs on Thirteen, which drops next Tuesday (February 23), have quite a few irresistible pop hooks - I've put my favorites on a player below - but Dena Gerbrecht adds a complex layer of prog rock drums to each track, yielding a rich listen. The result is an album that you'll swallow happily, but not guiltily - this is well-crafted pop. Pop you can feel good about.

Tribella has a CD release show for Thirteen at Lambert's on Saturday, February 27. Here are some goodies below, and if you like, you can buy them for $0.99 each here. I like "Deal Breaker" and "My Guest List" for driving around and blasting; the Eric LeRoc remix of "Guest List" for running or at-home dance party. It's delicious.

Deal Breaker


My Guest List


Guest List (Eric LeRoc Remix)


(Thank you for reading this review!)

The world's worst attitude about camp.

Haha. So, GARY! turned me onto the fact that Mortified - a hilarious variety hour of sorts, which showcases real people's awkward diary entries, love letters, anti-math teacher manifestos and etc. from their adolescence - is having auditions in Austin this weekend.

I emailed Mom yesterday to see if she could dig up any of my old letters from camp.

Now Reader, if we have ever met in real life, you probably thought: "Overall, Tolly is a fairly positive person."  "Overall, Tolly has a smile on her face."  But you would be missing one very crucial truth, and that truth friends is this:

Sometimes, I have a really, really bad attitude about things.  Sometimes I am whiny.  And, slightly melodramatic.  (Like with folding and putting away laundry. I hate it. It's like the laundry exists purely to inconvenience my life, and takes time away from doing IMPORTANT things.  Such as Twitter.  Or...text messages.  Yeah. Twitter and text messages.  Thanks a lot for preventing these two  extremely important things, LAUNDRY).

Anyhoo, below are some letters home from my first overnight camp, stationed, ironically, in Utopia, Texas.  Heh. Utopia indeed. 

(Note: Purrsilla is my cat).

Finally, this is a letter to....my cat.  (Purrsilla/Prissila - she had a couple of different spellings). I don't think I wrote it at camp.   If any of you know Claudia, my current cat, you might recognize the EXACT sentiment in this letter that I have towards her now (smothering).

Get your swap on!

Who has a weakness for vintage clothing, dance parties, cupcakes and alcohol?  You?  Me?  Let's dance.

Friends!  If you are in the Austin-and-surrounding area, the lovely Sarah Dean from The Year of Living Thriftily and I are putting on a par-tay.  The Austin Rock N' Swap is designed to benefit your wardrobe, your dance moves, and the Earf!  Let me just break down this awesomeness one piece at a time:

CLOTHING SWAP.  You bring 10 gently-used pieces of garment magic to the Austin Rock N' Swap, you get 10 pieces of clothing (or jewelry, accessories, shoes) in return.  No clothes (perhaps you are walking around naked)?  No problem: $5 will secure your entry.

POP-UP SHOPS. If you bring a little extra folding money, you get to peruse two ever-so-lovely pop-up shops by Laced With Romance and Magnolia Family Vintage.

DRANK. Treaty Oak Rum!

CUPCAKES. The Cupcake Bar will be there giving away samples of their famous confections.  In true vintage style, they will have nostalgic candy toppings for your cake!

MUSIC. By KUT FM's Laurie Gallardo!

This is all happening Saturday, January 30, from 6-10pm.  RSVP here for guaranteed entry!  Because once we hit capacity, we have to close this baby up, and then you will be sad.  Visit our Facebook invite too, and scheme with your friends for fashion swap ideas.

So....I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this.  (Are you noting the exclamation points exploding from this post?) Sarah and I met years ago when I was interviewing her for a story in Rare, and since then have been good buddies!  Today, she is a vintage stylist for a variety of shoots and magazines, including one of my faves, Boho.  Check out her wonderful post on the event here, and also be on the lookout for "swap pointers."

Candace Carlisle, talented in so many ways I cannot begin to count, designed our poster!

I am sure I will have more to say about this as we get closer to January 30, but for now, just clap your hands say YEAH!

TONIGHT: Oversharing, more than likely.

Have you ever wondered what weirdo writes this blog? 

If the answer is 'yes,' then perhaps this may interest you.  Tonight I will join the pedigreed improv troupe at The New Movement Theater for their grand opening.  Don't worry though, I'm not doing improv: I'm terrible at it and you would cry.  The performers at New Movement are brilliant though, and of the handful of times I've joined them, they seriously do kill everyone in the audience.  (By which I mean, "make them laugh." Not. Murder.)

Anyway, I will get up there and share a few stories from my life one at a time, and in between each story the actors get up there and invent comedic genius, ON THE SPOT.  The first time I joined them for one of these nights, I told a 100% true story of Thomas Kinkade, the twee cottage painter, who is ... a swinger.   I know because he invited my friend to participate in an orgy with him.  Technically a friend of a friend. 

Also, Thomas Kinkade has a swinger buddy named "Coke Can Dan."  Which you can interpret however you like.

Anyway!  Tonight's stories mostly come my life, but one story comes from someone else's life.  These aren't as smutty.  Maybe a little smutty.  Enough to make you laugh (hopefully) but not enough to gross you out.

Tickets for this shin-dig are $5, and you can purchase them here.  The show starts at 9:30, and it's BYOB.  New Movement is located on the east side at 1819 Rosewood Ave next door to the Nubian Queen Lola’s Soul Food, and a few blocks east of East Side Pies.

Next week, one of my favorite bloggers here in town, Hipstercrite, is in the hot seat!